305: Senior, it's time to raise a dragon

"This General!"

"This General!"

"..."

In the early morning, at the peak of Ninth Mountain, snow flew across the sky, and many figures began their day's busy work.

Servants swept the accumulated snow from the corridors, while maidservants, carrying exquisite warm stoves and hot water, hurried along. Soldiers in armor patrolled back and forth.

Outside the Zhonglang Hall, in the covered bridge leading up and down, a figure in green robes strode with great strides, followed by a soldier in red armor. The skirt armor swayed, rustling, and his Aura was imposing.

In the covered bridge, the figures passing through, upon seeing the green-robed figure, let out low exclamations and quickly moved to both sides, some bowing their heads, others kneeling.

Chen Yuan continued forward, walking a few steps, and then he saw, from afar, on an open-air plank road near the mountain cliff's corner, two graceful figures standing by the railing, forming a beautiful scene amidst the swirling snow.

One woman, dressed in colorful clothes, seemed to sense his gaze and turned her head, a fleeting glance like a startled Phoenix.

The other woman, dressed in a blue palace dress, used a beautiful, fair hand to pluck at the snowflakes dancing in the air, her expression showing a hint of surprise.

"I didn't expect this Ninth Mountain, which doesn't look very tall, to be so blessed with spiritual energy and natural beauty. It has a strange spirituality within it!"

"Sister, can you tell what's special about it?"

As this woman spoke, she turned her face and saw that her friend was silent, her gaze fixed in a certain direction. So she turned around and saw a blurry figure in the snow, gradually becoming clear.

He was handsome and elegant, with a graceful bearing. A golden vertical mark between his brows revealed a hint of majestic divinity!

Du Gu伽罗's long, narrow Phoenix eyes curved slightly, her gaze becoming bright, and a shallow smile played on her lips.

The main character had arrived!

Opposite them, the figure finally drew near.

Chen Yuan, accompanied by Cloud Skyborn, appeared before the two women. His gaze fell upon Qin Rushuang, and he also subtly glanced at the bright woman beside her, smiling as he said:

"Miss Qin, it's been many days since we last met. How have you been recently?"

"Chen has been busy with affairs and hasn't fulfilled his duties as a host. Please don't blame him."

He knew Qin Rushuang was staying in Jinguancheng.

Although he didn't know the exact identity of this woman from the Imperial Capital, she had joined them midway on the Demon Battlefield and fought alongside them, providing much help. Chen Yuan had a good impression of her.

Qin Rushuang, seeing Chen Yuan personally come out to greet her, felt a little embarrassed, "Rushuang knows This General is busy and dared not disturb him."

"This sister of mine wanted to enjoy the snow scenery in the mountains, which delayed us for some time, and even made This General come out personally."

"Miss Qin, you're being too polite." Only then did Chen Yuan look at the bright woman beside her, dressed in a light blue palace gown. It was originally elegant, but this woman wore it with a fiery, alluring feeling. He asked, inquiringly, "And this is?"

Du Gu伽罗's Phoenix eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at her friend beside her, who appeared so cultured and sensible.

Something was wrong!

Miss Qin was not acting like herself.

Qin Rushuang's name naturally contained the character 'frost,' so when had she ever behaved like this towards a young man?

Du Gu伽罗, seeing Chen Yuan ask about her, met Chen Yuan's gaze with her bright eyes, then smiled.

"Du Gu伽罗!"

"I've heard many heroic deeds of This General on the battlefield from Miss Qin."

As she spoke, Du Gu伽罗's gaze shifted to Qin Rushuang, her smile carrying a hint of teasing.

Qin Rushuang understood her sister's personality. Her expression remained unchanged, but her eyes held a touch of helplessness.

Chen Yuan looked at the blue-clad woman before him. Her eyes were bright and unrestrained, meeting his gaze without flinching. Her Qi was even slightly stronger than Qin Rushuang's, having stepped into the Dao Embryo realm. He felt a little surprised.

It seems this is another person from an aristocratic Family in the Imperial Capital!

Compared to this, the martial Dao cultivation in Shu Land was simply weak and inferior to that of the Central Plains. If a young person there broke through the Heavenly Gate, they would be called a prodigy. However, the young masters from the Central Plains he had encountered so far were one stronger than the last, each like a Dragon.

"A pleasure to meet you."

Chen Yuan nodded, not dwelling on this woman, then turned his gaze to Qin Rushuang, asking directly,

"I heard Miss Qin has something to discuss?"

"Mm."

Qin Rushuang looked up at Chen Yuan, her beautiful face showing hesitation, as if she was thinking about how to begin.

Chen Yuan was made a little strange by her expression, and he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

Finally, a fiery voice from beside them spoke first.

"Sister, when did you become so boring? Just say what you need to say."

As she spoke, Du Gu伽罗 drew Chen Yuan's gaze, giggling. Her chest trembled with the movement of her clothes. "General Chen, what do you think of the current imperial court?"

What do I think?

I'm standing and watching.

Chen Yuan's eyes slanted downwards.

"Young Miss Dugu, what do you mean by that?"

"The imperial court has newly appointed a Town Demon Envoy, just recently decided." The woman smiled, her beautiful eyes swirling, the dark green three-flower mark in her pupils faintly flickering, trying to catch the expression on Chen Yuan's face.

To her disappointment, Chen Yuan showed no surprise or anger upon hearing this. He merely frowned.

"Why hasn't the Fushi received any news from this side?"

"The Luck of Shu Land is recovering, so there will likely be major changes. The major forces in the imperial court have been playing games with each other and finally jointly nominated a person. The news hasn't spread in the Imperial Capital yet because it's a big deal."

"So that's how it is!" Chen Yuan nodded.

This left Du Gu伽罗, who was prepared to watch the "show," with a lump in her throat. Her beautiful eyebrows raised, the three-flower mark in her pupils flashed with an enchanting light, and her tone lengthened, "General Chen, aren't you angry?"

"Why should Chen be angry?" Chen Yuan looked at Young Miss Dugu's obvious probing with a half-smile.

"This position should rightfully be This General's. I heard from Miss Qin that General Chen defeated demons on the Demon Battlefield, stabilized the war, and upon his return, quickly suppressed the rebellion and organized the disciples of various Families to fight demons on the front lines. He is the popular choice. Yet, the imperial court has put your achievements aside and doesn't care about the lives of the soldiers on the front line. Shouldn't This General be angry?" Du Gu伽罗's beautiful eyes shimmered with light.

"Haha, listening to Young Miss Dugu, logically speaking, Chen should indeed take this position." Chen Yuan smiled and nodded, then turned his face slightly.

"Tiansheng, issue an order. The Ninth Mountain Army is to be on full alert. Also, send word to the troops gathered by the various prefectures to expedite their journey. Furthermore..."

At this point, Chen Yuan paused, his tone uncertain and dark.

"Send a message to General Wei at Tianxiong Pass: if the newly appointed Town Demon Envoy brings troops into the Pass, send This General an urgent report via eight hundred li dispatch!"

"Understood!"

Cloud Skyborn seemed like a machine that merely obeyed orders. Even though the command Chen Yuan issued contained some astonishing information, he remained expressionless and retreated as ordered.

"Is This General planning to rebel?"

Du Gu伽罗's beautiful eyes instantly brightened, and she uttered astonishing words, as if she feared nothing more than peace.

"General Chen!"

Qin Rushuang's expression tightened, then she quickly pulled her friend, leaning forward almost half her body.

"Don't listen to Jialuo speak nonsense. Rushuang fought alongside This General before and knows his character. This matter involves too many implications; This General must not be reckless."

Du Gu伽罗 saw Qin Rushuang's urgency. She had originally intended to tease her. After all, yesterday, when she revealed this news, Miss Qin was furious and inconsolable, and Du Gu伽罗 had to persuade her. Now, their roles were reversed.

However, she swallowed the words back. She rarely saw Qin Rushuang like this and couldn't push it too far. Her beautiful eyes swept over the Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General, and she reined herself in slightly.

"Miss Qin is right. I'm too straightforward, General Chen. Please don't mind it."

"Hehe!"

Chen Yuan saw the two beautiful women, one cold and anxious, the other charming as a fox, and couldn't help but smile, "Don't worry, Chen wishes that the more people the imperial court sends, the better. Chen is ultimately just a martial artist; how could he manage such a large task alone?"

As he spoke, his tone became light, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

"As for the position of Town Demon Envoy, it has been so long since the demons broke through the Pass. Chen has long guessed the attitude the imperial court would show. Regardless of why they come, as long as the troops they bring can go to the front lines and hold back the demons, Chen will welcome them with open arms!"

"Haha."

What Chen Yuan said was the truth. The position of Town Demon Envoy was the highest commander besides the Zhenmo General, equivalent to a deputy position, directly appointed by the imperial court, and considered a high-ranking official in a frontier region.

Not to mention that during the days he guarded Jinguancheng, there was no news from the imperial court about the Town Demon Envoy position. Even after the demons broke through the Pass for so long, the imperial court had done nothing except send two Grand Ministers to their deaths in vain. They didn't care about the lives of people like them.

He had long given up on the imperial court!

As for the new Town Demon Envoy taking office, haha.

Chen Yuan smiled, making it impossible to discern his true feelings.

About an hour later,

Qin Rushuang and Du Gu伽罗 emerged from the Zhonglang Hall, where the braziers crackled and the warmth was pleasant, bidding farewell to Chen Yuan.

Then, instead of walking down the mountain as they had ascended, the two women leaped and flew into the snow below. Their clothes fluttered like dancing Fairies. Outside the hall, many guards and servants on duty couldn't help but look up and gaze.

The two women possessed noble temperaments and were considered peerless beauties. Their hearts couldn't help but feel envious; only a great figure like This General could come into contact with such women.

At this moment, before the two women flying down the mountain, a silver token shimmered, guiding them through layers of Restriction light barriers hidden within the snow.

"Sister, do you think this General Chen might rebel?" Du Gu伽罗's Phoenix eyes were long and narrow, and her expression was full of interest.

"I've known General Chen for some time. He cares for his Army and pities the common people. He should not make the situation more chaotic. This man has great ambition." Qin Rushuang shook her head, raising a delicate hand to imbue the token before her with spiritual light.

"Hehe, my dear sister, one thing is one thing. I think this This General says he welcomes the new Town Demon Envoy, but do you believe it? If the one who comes provokes this General Chen, he'll rebel just like that." Du Gu伽罗's words carried deep meaning.

"Jialuo, you've only met This General for the first time. Why are you so certain?" Qin Rushuang didn't argue, feeling a bit helpless, thinking it was just her sister's nature. After all, this sister had caused quite a stir in the Imperial Capital many times and was unstoppable when she went crazy.

Du Gu伽罗 did not answer, because she felt the shadow of her own father in this Zhonglang General, a kind of arrogance deep in his bones. Thinking this, her beautiful eyes shifted to the silver token, and she smiled charmingly,

"Good sister, how about you give me this token? Sister is quite interested in this Zhonglang General."

Qin Rushuang's expression changed slightly. What was this crazy woman trying to do? She shouldn't harm anyone.

"No!"

She refused, then realized she had refused too quickly and added,

"This is a military stronghold; it's not good to transfer it, and besides..."

Chen Yuan had given Qin Rushuang this token earlier during their reminiscence. With this token, she could freely enter and exit Ninth Mountain in the future.

She wanted to say more, but a silver bell-like laugh came from beside her, making Qin Rushuang's face a little unnatural, then she glared back angrily.

With the woman's silver bell-like laughter, the two women disappeared into the snow at the foot of the mountain.

Meanwhile, after the two women left, inside the Zhonglang Hall on Ninth Mountain, the brazier crackled.

Chen Yuan sat in the empty hall, his expression uncertain and dark.

At this time, the imperial court sending a new Town Demon Envoy into Shu would soon turn him, the nominal Zhonglang General guarding Jinguancheng, into a joke, and his authority would be usurped.

From the information the two women provided, these people were coming for the Luck of Shu Land. Chen Yuan wouldn't expect them to be polite to him; they might even deal harshly with him, who had just begun to grasp control of Jinguancheng.

After all, he was blocking their way!

Once he showed weakness, the prestige he had so painstakingly built would collapse in an instant. The Families who had pledged allegiance to him might very well defect, or he would face a strong counterattack.

Chen Yuan knew this was inevitable.

All of this was unavoidable, but there was no anxiety or fear in Chen Yuan's eyes. Instead, his eyes flickered with blazing flames. Everything he had never came from others' charity, but was carved out by stepping on countless white bones.

Just as he was contemplating a countermeasure,

"Thump, thump, thump."

Footsteps echoed outside the empty hall.

Immediately after, a white-robed armored soldier entered.

"This General!"

"Jin Mingquan, the head of the Jin Family, is waiting outside Xuntian Hall."

Councilor Gao Yu came to report.

Chen Yuan's tone was merely indifferent,

"Tell him to wait!"

Then he stood up, a chilling light in his eyes.

"Put aside the remaining miscellaneous tasks for now. Focus on the matters This General has assigned you. This General wants to see results very soon. Those areas that have shown abnormalities must be strictly sealed off. No one is allowed to approach. If you lack manpower, you can relay my command to mobilize the Ninth Mountain Army. Anyone who disobeys will be killed without mercy!"

"Yes!"

Gao Yu retreated, and Chen Yuan also disappeared from the hall.

A short while later, he appeared in a separate courtyard on the mountainside of Ninth Mountain. This was similar in style to the main peak, just on a smaller scale, usually used to entertain guests.

When Chen Yuan appeared at the entrance of a large hall.

He saw a scene that made his eyelids twitch.

Inside the hall, the North Sea Dragon Girl and the Huanlong Clan were buried in a feast of delicacies, eating and drinking heartily.

One was a drunken old man, the other a big-stomached young girl burying her head in food.

Chen Yuan wondered if his accumulated treasury could hold up if these two continued to consume at this rate.

Old Man Dong heard the movement, turned his reddened face, and looked at Chen Yuan with hazy, drunken eyes, letting out a burp and smiling.

The young girl, however, awkwardly stopped eating and stood up from the table.

Chen Yuan's eyes gleamed,

"Senior, it's time to raise the Dragon!"